But this past winter, probably, was just a blip in the warmingtrend, and it was in only a part of the Earth. The average temperature of the planet still has been above average.

Warmer summers, which we do not have locally this year, welcome more southerly plant and animal species to spread to the North.

The old man who was the biggest part in raising me into my mid-teens was born in the late 19th century.

He told me a few times that there were no turkey vultures, he called them buzzards, or opossum in this area before the early 20th century. They are not too bad. But some of the invasive plants and insects have been.

Some of our favorite trees and animals probably will disappear from Pennsylvania before the end of this century. Since 1988, our ruffed grouse population has lost 20,000 breeding males.

"The ruffed grouse is literally on its way out in Pennsylvania," Perry said. "Hemlock will probably be gone in 80 years."

At the top of the list of causes of warming is carbon pollution, which is a result of burning fossil fuels.

Individuals need look no further than ourselves for the first steps in lowering carbon pollution. Consumerism is the cause of massive carbon pollution.

We heat homes with fossil fuel. Fossil fuel powers our vehicles. Fossil fuels are the source of much of our electric power.

Switching from gasoline and coal to natural gas is a step in the right direction.

As individuals, we can change to more fuel-efficient vehicles.

We can use a clothes line instead of electric dryers to dry our laundry.

Insulating a water heater reduces energy consumption.

We can buy more efficient light bulbs.

Plenty of information is available to help people be more energy efficient.

"We have a moral obligation to take charge, and pass it on to our kids and grand kids," Perry said.

Jerry Skrypzak, president of S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie, one of the most effective local fishing groups in the country, talked about having fewer fishing days on Lake Erie due to storms, likely one of the climate changes that are coming.

He spoke of losing native Lake Erie fish, like the blue pike.

He said that 2 million blue pike were caught in 1957 from Lake Erie.

"We'll see how it affects walleye and perch," he said.

MIKE BLEECH can be reached by e-mail at mikeb73@verizon.net. Read his columns at nwpaoutdoors.com.